Which historical figure was the Generalissimo? How many generalissimos were there in Russia? Generalissimos: historical role
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The military rank of Generalissimo is an honorary military title or the highest military position in many countries around the world. This rank has always been considered higher than field marshal and other five-star ranks. The name itself comes from the Italian word generalissimo and means “the highest rank of all generals.” In different countries and at different times, such a high and honorable title was awarded to commanders-in-chief for the duration of hostilities, and was given as an honorary title for life to military leaders, persons of noble blood, or prominent political figures.
The very first generalissimo was in 1569 the last French king from the Valois dynasty, Henry III (1551-1589). This high title, along with the title of Duke of Auvergne, was awarded to his elder brother Charles IX when Henry was heir to the throne. And after that, with the light hand of the French, this practice became widespread in countries such as the Holy Roman Empire, Sweden, Spain, Mexico, Japan, and China.
The famous Russian Generalissimo A. Suvorov
In Russia, Voivode Shein (1652-1700) became the first generalissimo in 1696. The high title was awarded to him by Peter I for the brilliantly conducted military operation near Azov. In 1727, Alexander Menshikov (1673-1729) received such an honorary title. He received it from Peter II, but Peter the Great apparently did not consider Menshikov worthy of such a title. But, without any doubt, the real generalissimo was Alexander Suvorov (1730-1800). He became one in 1799 by order of Paul I.
It should be said that in Russia under Peter I there was also the rank of generalissimo of the amusing troops. The Tsar awarded it to Fyodor Romodanovsky (1640-1717) and Ivan Buturlin (1661-1738) in 1694. Officially, the highest military rank was introduced in the Russian Empire in 1716. Thus, neither Romodanovsky, nor Buturlin, nor Shein can legally be considered holders of the highest title. They received it only by the will of the emperor, but without any legislative act.
Joseph Stalin (1879-1953) received the high military rank of Generalissimo with the prefix “Soviet Union” on June 27, 1945. But the leader himself was absolutely indifferent to the highest award. This is indicated by the fact that they did not even come up with a shoulder strap for the title approved by the Presidium of the Supreme Council. Stalin wore marshal's shoulder straps when he put on his military uniform.
Generalissimo of the Soviet Union I. Stalin
There are many other names of famous people awarded the highest and honorable military rank. Here we can name Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975). This is an outstanding political figure in China. From 1946 until his death, he served as President of the Republic of China, located on the island of Taiwan and a number of other smaller islands. It should not be confused with the People's Republic of China, which occupies most of Southeast Asia in area. Chiang Kai-shek received the honorary title in 1935.
George Washington (1732-1799) should also be named. He was promoted to the highest rank posthumously on January 19, 1976. During his lifetime he held the rank of army general, and 177 years after his death he became generalissimo. This practice is widespread in some countries.
We cannot ignore the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kim Il Sung (1912-1994). This leader of the Korean people received the highest title in 1992. And his son Kim Jong Il (1941-2011) received a similar title posthumously in 2012.
Kim Jong Il also received the title of Generalissimo
The outstanding French Marshal Maurice Gamelin (1872-1958) was also awarded the highest military rank in 1939. He commanded the French armed forces in World War II. True, Gamelin lost the Battle of France (May 10 - June 22, 1940), but this did not affect the honorary title.
French General Maxime Weygand (1867-1965) also received an honorary military title in 1939. This man participated in both the First and Second World Wars. Already in old age, he was appointed supreme commander of the French army after the resignation of Maurice Gamelin. He was dismissed in 1941. In 1942 he was imprisoned in Dachau.
There are many more names of worthy people who bore the military rank of generalissimo. All of them served their countries faithfully and devotedly and had either military or political careers. The glorious deeds of these citizens are inscribed in history to serve as an example for posterity to follow..
Despite the history of our country, rich in military events, the title of generalissimo did not become widespread in Russia; almost every production in it was extremely politicized, which in fact gives special historical significance and increased interest to this extraordinary highest honorary military rank.
"Generalissimo" translated from Latin - general, the most important in the army. In the dictionary V.I. Dahl interprets this word as “commander-in-chief, chief of the entire military force of the state.”
The title of Generalissimo was first granted by the French King Charles IX in 1569. to his eighteen-year-old brother Henri (later King Henry III). There was no uniformity in the assignment of the highest military rank: in some cases they became generalissimos for life, and in others - only for the period of a particular military campaign. The Venetian commander Morosini, for example, held the title of generalissimo four times - in 1678, 1681, 1684 and 1694, and Archduke Charles of Austria - twice. The word “generalissimo” was introduced into the Russian language by foreign commanders during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich when they addressed the governor of the Great Regiment.
In Russian history, he became the first Russian generalissimo in 1696. comrade-in-arms of the young Tsar Peter, boyar Alexei Semenovich Shein, who commanded all the troops in the second Azov campaign.
The second Russian generalissimo was the closest associate of Peter I, His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov (1673-1729). Many victories in the Russian-Swedish Northern War (1700-1721) are associated with his name. On the field of the Poltava victory in 1709. triumphant Peter promoted his favorite and comrade-in-arms to field marshal general. However, the highest rank of A.D. Menshikov received only after the death of Peter the Great under the following circumstances. The latter's grandson, Emperor Peter II, May 12, 1727. declared: “Today I want to destroy the field marshal!” Everyone present looked at each other in bewilderment. Then the emperor handed Menshikov a signed patent for the rank of generalissimo. But soon the Most Serene Prince, involved in court intrigues, was exiled to Siberia to the city of Berezov.
Along with the largest commanders, one of the members of the imperial dynasty also had the title of generalissimo in Russia. Anna Leopoldovna (mother of the non-reigning infant emperor John VI) during her short reign on November 11, 1740. awarded this rank to her 26-year-old husband, Prince Anton-Ulrich of Brunswick, who had virtually no military merit.
October 28, 1799 The great Russian commander Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov (1730-1800), who victoriously completed his legendary Swiss campaign in 1799, became the generalissimo of the Russian land and naval forces. Emperor Paul I, erecting A.V. Suvorov to the rank of generalissimo, wrote: “Now, rewarding you according to my gratitude and placing you at the highest level of honor and heroism, I am confident that I will elevate you to the most famous Commander of this and other centuries.” Suvorov took part in six major wars, was wounded six times in battle, made 20 campaigns, fought 63 battles and did not lose a single one, and his army outnumbered the enemy only three times.
After the October Revolution, the rank of generalissimo was abolished along with other military ranks.
In the USSR, the military rank of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was introduced after the victorious end of the Great Patriotic War by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated June 26, 1945. For outstanding services to the Soviet Motherland in the leadership of all armed forces of the state during the Great Patriotic War, this title was awarded on June 27, 1945. was assigned to Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin.
In 1993 Together with other military ranks of the Soviet Army, the title of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was formally abolished.
How many generalissimos were there in Russia?
Vladimir Rogoza
In the entire history of the Russian state, only four people had it - A.S. Shein, A.D. Menshikov, A. Braunschweigsky, A.V. Suvorov.
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June 26, 1945
, 70 years ago the title of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was introduced in the USSR. In the entire history of the Russian state, only four people had it - A.S. Shein, A.D. Menshikov, A. Braunschweigsky, A.V. Suvorov. In addition, the “generalissimos of the amusing troops” were the associates of Peter I F.Yu. Romodanovsky and I.I. Buturlin. The rank of generalissimo of the Turkish troops was held by Shamil, who accepted Russian citizenship after the defeat.  
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Fragment of the diorama “The Capture of the Azov Fortress.” For the successful assault on Azov A.S. Shein was the first in Russia to receive the rank of generalissimo. Fragment of the diorama “The Capture of the Azov Fortress.”
For the successful assault on Azov A.S. Shein was the first in Russia to receive the rank of generalissimo
In addition, the “generalissimos of the amusing troops” were the associates of Peter I F.Yu. Romodanovsky and I.I. Buturlin, the rank of Generalissimo of the Turkish troops was held by Shamil, who accepted Russian citizenship after the defeat.
After the Great Patriotic War, the title of Generalissimo was awarded to I.V. Stalin.
It is believed that the rank of generalissimo appeared in the middle of the 16th century in France, where it was awarded to the commander-in-chief of the united armies.
The first to receive it was the Duke of Anjou, who was only 18 years old, but he was the king's brother and was considered commander-in-chief.
Subsequently, this rank became widespread not only in Europe, but also in Asia.
In Russia, the rank of generalissimo formally appeared in the early 90s of the 17th century, when Peter I promoted Prince Fyodor Yuryevich Romodanovsky and steward Ivan Ivanovich Buturlin to the rank of “generalissimo of the amusing troops.”
But they used these ranks only during the period of joint entertainment with the young king, commanding amusing armies.
When Peter matured and became seriously involved in state politics, these strange ranks remained only in the memory of the royal drinking companions.
Romodanovsky, whom the monarch left in charge of the country when he went abroad, received the title of Prince Caesar for state affairs, which at that time became the highest in Russia.
Buturlin was not awarded such high ranks, although he fought a lot and successfully.
True, near Narva he was captured. But captivity was never blamed on him, since the Swedes captured him in battle, when he and the Preobrazhensky men held back enemy attacks, giving the main Russian forces the opportunity to retreat.
He was subsequently exchanged for captured Swedish officers, and Buturlin continued to fight until the end of the Northern War.
The first to receive the true rank of generalissimo from the tsar in 1696 was governor Alexei Semyonovich Shein.
Like most of Peter's associates, he was relatively young - only 34 years old.
Shein was elevated to boyarhood by ruler Sophia, entrusting him with the voivodeship of Tobolsk and Kursk.
Then he took part in the Crimean campaigns, which were unsuccessful for the Russian troops. The Azov campaigns of Peter I brought Shein military glory.
In 1695, in the first campaign, which was generally unsuccessful, Shein commanded the best Russian regiments - Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky, to whose action Peter had no special complaints.
During the Azov campaign of 1696, the tsar entrusted him with command of all ground forces.
Azov was taken, the tsar was pleased with the actions of his commander-in-chief and on June 28, 1696, awarded him the rank of generalissimo, simultaneously showering him with expensive awards.
Unfortunately, Alexey Semyonovich died in 1700, not having time to reinforce his high rank with new victories.
At the end of the 17th century, Peter was just beginning to think through a system of ranks for Russia.
For commanders-in-chief of armies, he introduced the rank of field marshal general and did not assign generalissimo to anyone else.
But in the regulations this highest military rank was retained, but the king decided that henceforth “this rank only belongs to crowned heads and great sovereign princes, and especially to the one whose army is.
In his non-existence, he gives command over the entire army to his field marshal general.”
The next generalissimo in Russia appeared after the death of Peter I; Emperor Peter II awarded this rank to Alexander Danilovich Menshikov in May 1727.
During this period, preparations were being made for the engagement of the young monarch to the daughter of Menshikov, who was therefore “showered” with ranks and awards.
However, formally, Peter's requirements that the holder of this rank must be a ruler were met.
By this period, A. Menshikov possessed almost all the highest titles and ranks, including the Most Serene Prince of the Russian Empire, the Most Serene Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, the Duke of Izhora (this title was equated to sovereign).
And he had quite a bit of experience in commanding armies, and successful ones at that.
But Menshikov spent only a short time as Generalissimo; he soon fell into disgrace, was deprived of ranks and titles, and exiled to the Tobolsk province in the small town of Berezov, where he died on November 12, 1729.
In November 1740, Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick became Russian generalissimo, receiving the highest military rank only because he was the father of the infant emperor John VI.
Exactly a year later, as a result of another palace coup, the throne passed to Elizabeth Petrovna, and the prince, deprived of all ranks, was sent into exile to Kholmogory, where he died in May 1774.
Of all the Russian generalissimos, only Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, who received it on October 28, 1799 for the Italian and Swiss campaigns, earned the highest military rank with his glorious victories.
By the way, this time too, Peter’s requirement was met.
Shortly before Paul I made the decision to promote the commander to generalissimo, Alexander Vasilyevich was granted the title of “cousin of the king” by the King of Sardinia as a grandee and prince of royal blood.
When listing generalissimos, they usually forget that this highest military rank was held by another subject of the Russian crown, although he received it during the period when he was at war with Russia.
Formally, while living in Russia and sworn allegiance to Alexander II, the former imam of Dagestan and Chechnya Shamil remained a Turkish generalissimo (the rank was awarded in 1854), since he was not officially deprived of the rank.
The highest military rank was received by Shamil by right. He fought against Russian troops for 25 years, winning many victories. At times his army exceeded 30 thousand people.
By the way, after his capture, Shamil was treated with due respect in Russia, receiving the highest military honors.
In 1945, in the USSR, the title of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was awarded to Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin.
The initiative did not come from the “father of nations,” who was very cool about formal titles and awards.
He rejected several offers to give him this title.
It is believed that K.K. managed to persuade him. Rokossovsky, who stated that there are many marshals in the Soviet Union and Stalin, in fact, is just one of them. And Stalin, naturally, did not want to be “one of many.”
On June 26, 1945, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the highest military rank of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was established, and the very next day it was awarded to I.V. Stalin.
Several versions of the Generalissimo's uniform were developed, but Stalin rejected them all as too tacky, and continued to wear a jacket with shoulder straps of the Marshal of the Soviet Union.
After Stalin's death, the title of Generalissimo was no longer awarded in the USSR, although it officially existed until 1993.
In modern Russia, military regulations do not provide for the awarding of the rank of generalissimo.
In total, over almost five centuries of its existence, about 100 people received the military rank (rank) of generalissimo.
This title is rightfully the rarest and most honorable.
Why in the entire history of our country’s existence have only five people been awarded the highest military rank?
In the history of Russia there was no military rank higher than generalissimo. As, indeed, in the world: in the five centuries that have passed since the first recorded assignment of this title - in 1569 in France it was awarded to the future king Henry III - there have been no more than a hundred generalissimos.
Like any higher rank, the title of generalissimo has always been not only military, but also political. The same future king of France received it at the age of 18 - think about it, at 18! - when he commanded his brother's royal troops in the war against the Huguenots. And although in those centuries men matured much earlier, it is not difficult to understand that there were also significant political reasons behind the first ever conferment of the highest title.
In this sense, one can only be surprised at how few generalissimos there were in Russian history. Exactly five! Two of them received the highest ranks during political battles: it is no coincidence that both were later deprived of this honor. The other two became generalissimos on the battlefield, with good reason. And another figure is so ambiguous and tragic that it is difficult to even immediately say what was more important in awarding the highest military rank to this person - military talent or politics.
The first two are the royal favorite Alexander Menshikov and the husband of regent Anna Leopoldovna, Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick.
The other two are Voivode Alexei Shein and Commander Alexander Suvorov.
The fifth and last is the Generalissimo of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin.
Heroes of political battles
The title of “Generalissimo” as the highest military rank in Russia was established by the Military Regulations of Peter I, adopted in 1716. And from a purely formal point of view, the first Russian generalissimo who received this title according to the current charter should be considered Peter’s associate, the owner of almost all the highest (at that time) Russian ranks, Alexander Menshikov. And this is exactly the case when full compliance with the letter of the law is completely contrary to its spirit. After all, the tsar’s favorite received the highest military rank not for loud victories on the battlefield, not for the reform or rearmament, in the end, of the Russian army. Although, it must be admitted, he had combat and command experience, it would be quite difficult to even call him a general. Menshikov became Generalissimo at the moment when the reigning grandson of Peter I - Emperor Peter II - was preparing for an engagement to his daughter.
When ranks are received not as a sign of recognition of military merit, but as a sign of royal favor, such rises, as a rule, are short-lived. This is exactly what happened with Menshikov: he was awarded the title of Generalissimo on May 12, 1727, and already in September he was arrested and deprived of all awards and titles. The former royal favorite never returned from the exile that followed this punishment, nor did his daughter, who never became queen.
The story of another “political generalissimo” - Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick - was equally short-lived. The husband of regent Anna Leopoldovna - the daughter of Empress Anna Ioannovna and the mother of the young Emperor of Russia John IV - received the highest military rank from his wife on November 11, 1740, three days after the palace coup that brought his son to the throne. And he also lost him as a result of a palace coup: Elizaveta Petrovna, the daughter of the first Russian emperor, who came to power on December 6, 1741, deprived him of his ranks and titles on the same day and sent him and his entire family into exile. True, it should be noted that in exile in northern Kholmogory, the former generalissimo behaved exactly as befits a real Russian officer. He did not leave his wife and his children, who were born near Arkhangelsk, even after the Empress personally invited him to go abroad, leaving his family in Russia.
Generals by God's Grace
If the elevation of Alexander Menshikov to the rank of generalissimo was formally correct, but essentially unfounded, then with boyar Alexei Shein the situation is strictly the opposite. He received the highest military rank two decades before its official introduction according to the charter - in 1696. But he got it by showing his best side precisely in battles and preparation for them.
44-year-old Alexey Shein rose to the pinnacle of military glory as a result of the second Azov campaign of Peter the Great’s army, carried out in 1696. During this campaign, Voivode Shein served as commander of the ground forces. Taking into account the mistakes of the first Azov campaign, achieving consistency in the actions of the troops subordinate to him and soberly assessing the strength of those defending the fortress, Shein achieved what Fyodor Apraksin could not achieve a year earlier - he took Azov.
And here’s what’s remarkable: Alexey Shein received the title of Generalissimo of the Russian Army, which was to officially appear only 20 years later, even before the end of the campaign! The royal decree conferring the highest rank on him was promulgated on June 28, and the complete surrender of Azov took place almost a month later - on July 19. However, already at the end of June 1696 it was completely clear that the first Russian generalissimo had completely deprived the Turks of any hopes of victory in this battle.
We can say that it was by looking at Shein, at his leadership of the army, that Peter I worked out his interpretation of the title of generalissimo. After all, according to Peter the Great’s Military Regulations, “this rank is only due to crowned heads and great ruling princes, and especially to the one whose army is. In its non-existence, it gives command over the entire army to its general, the Felt Marshal. Or he can act autocratically on occasion in whatever way he invents for the good and can give an answer to his sovereign.” In full accordance with this idea, which had not yet been put on paper, Peter I, soon after the second Azov campaign, appointed his generalissimo to head the Inozemsky, Pushkarsky and Reitarsky orders, which corresponded to the status of the commander-in-chief of all Russian troops. And he entrusted him with the most dangerous direction at that time - the southern, Turkish, where Shein’s successes led to the conclusion in 1700 of the Peace of Constantinople, which was so necessary for Russia.
The following fact speaks volumes about how worthy an officer and military leader the first Russian generalissimo was. After the Streltsy revolt of 1698, two years before his death, Alexey Shein fell into short disgrace with Peter I. Everyone considered and cited the reason for the tsar’s cooling towards his military leader as being too lenient, in Peter’s opinion, the sentence passed on the rebels by the commanders of the tsarist troops. After all, according to Shein’s sentences, only 130 people out of more than 2,100 riot participants were executed - and two months later, the king gave the order for the execution of almost 2,000 archers!
It is difficult to say how well the last Russian generalissimo, the legendary Count Alexander Suvorov, who received the highest military rank shortly before his death, on August 28, 1799, as a result of the Swiss campaign, was familiar with the biography and military exploits of his predecessor. Most likely, very well: the brilliant commander, according to contemporaries, was always distinguished by wide erudition and interest in the military talents of the past. But if anyone can rightfully stand on the same podium with the most famous Russian commander, Generalissimo Suvorov, then this is the first Russian generalissimo - Alexey Shein.
Soviet Generalissimo - the first and only
After the Generalissimos of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, no one else in Russia was awarded the highest military rank. Even the winner of the Patriotic War of 1812, His Serene Highness Prince Mikhail Kutuzov, was awarded only the rank of Field Marshal, that is, one step lower. True, he became the first full holder of the Order of St. George in Russia - but that’s a completely different story.
Even the greatest war of its time - the First World War - did not lead to the emergence of new generalissimos in Russia. Perhaps because the art of war ceased to be personal, because the role of each individual commander as the creator of a common victory became objectively less important... But one way or another, Count Suvorov remained the last generalissimo of Russia. After the October Revolution of 1917, the previous military ranks were abolished, and along with them the rank of generalissimo.
It returned only after our country’s victory in the most terrible of wars - the Great Patriotic War. The decree introducing the title of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union in the Soviet Army was adopted on June 26, 1945. And the next day a new decree was issued - on the first and last assignment of this title: Marshal of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin was awarded it.
A very remarkable legend is associated with the awarding of the title of Generalissimo to Stalin. As you know, the “father of nations” was very indifferent to the titles and signs of his power - the fact that he actually possessed it was quite enough for him. He was not even the first to receive the marshal rank and only in the middle of the war, on March 6, 1943, becoming the eleventh marshal of the USSR. And it was precisely on the fact that the leader of the country that broke Hitler’s back should not remain just one of his marshals, as the legend says, that one of Stalin’s favorite military leaders, Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky, played. It is to him that rumor ascribes the merit that Joseph Stalin agreed to the conferment of the highest military rank.
There is a logic to the fact that Stalin was the first and last Soviet generalissimo. After all, as we have already said, the 20th century seriously diminished the role of an individual commander in the successes or failures of the army of a particular country. Victory in the full sense of the word was forged by the whole country. It is difficult and pointless to deny the merit of Generalissimo Stalin as a man who managed to unite Soviet Russia in the most difficult times and commanded not just its army, but the entire belligerent power. So, awarding him the highest military rank, the rank of the first Soviet generalissimo, was completely justified - no matter how he was treated then, and especially now.
By the way, an interesting fact: Joseph Stalin is the only generalissimo in Russian history who not only had the highest military rank of the country, but was also its leader. Generalissimo Alexei Shein was subordinate to Tsar Peter I, who had no rank higher than captain of the bombardment company of the Preobrazhensky regiment and rear admiral. Generalissimo Alexander Menshikov received his title from the hands of Emperor Peter II, who held the rank of colonel. Anna Leopoldovna, who made Prince Anton Ulbrich of Brunswick generalissimo, had no military ranks at all. And Emperor Paul I, who made Alexander Suvorov generalissimo, since 1762 held the ranks of colonel of the Life Cuirassier Regiment and admiral general.